Seat post



May 3, 1938.

R. THlELE SEAT POST Filed May 13, 1957 Ilm...

By ww 5m Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Richard Thiele, Valley Mills, Tex. Application May 1s; 1931, semi No. 142,519

lOlaim.

My invention relates to improvements in seat posts for use in cushioning and supporting the seat of a tractor, harvester, or the like, and the primary object thereof is to provide a simply constructed, inexpensive and eillcient device of this character for use beneath the usual spring supported seat of tractors or the like, for cushioning downward movement of the latter, checking rebound, and supporting the seat in the event of breakage of the usual seat supporting spring.'

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention hasbeen illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth in detail in the following description, and defined in the claim appended hereto.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a tracto having the usual spring supported seat and embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of my improved seat post detached, and

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the seat post drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the usual tractor seat I, as is well known, is mounted upon a leaf spring, as at 2, in a floating position above the chassis 3 of the tractor, rebound of the spring 2 being checked, in this instance, by a coil spring I suitably secured to said spring 2 and to the chassis 3. In the event of breakage of the spring 2, the operator of the tractor is liable to serious injury by being precipitated onto the chassis.

According to my invention, a seat post is provided comprisingV upper ami lower telescopic tubular sections 5 and 6, respectively, the latter having a closed base end 1 and a base flange 9. preferably rectangular, provided with bolt holes I0 by means of which the device is bolted to the chassis 3, as at II, in upstanding position immediately below the seat I. Threaded onto the upper end of the lower section 8 is an annular guide cap 8 through .which the upper section 5 is tted to slide therethrough. The upper sec tion 5 is sufficiently smaller, in diameter, than the lower section 6 to provide a slight clearance between said sections and thereby reduce friction therebetween. At its lower end the upper section 5 has threaded, or otherwise secured thereon, a ring II spacing said end from the section 6 and adapted to coact with the cap 8 to limit outward movement of the inner section on the rebound thereof. The upper section 5 is provided with an upper closed'end I2 and an upper end flange I3,

also preferablyrectangular, and provided with bolt slots Il by means of which said section is secured as by bolts I5 to the Aunder side of the spring 2. 'Ihe purpose of having the flange I3 slotted is to permit sliding compensating move- 5 ment of the seat I on the section 5 and thereby prevent binding of the section 5 in the section 6 under arcuate movement of the seat I. The closed end I2 of the section 5 is provided with an aperture I5 for the accommodation of the usual` 10 bolt (not shown), securing the seat I to the spring 2. l

In the bottom of the lower section 6 is a cushion member Il of any suitable resilient material, such as rubber, and interposed between said cushion l5 member I0 and the section 5 'is a tension spring I1.

The sections 5 and 6 are so designed that normally, that is to say, when the seat I Is unoccupied, the upper section 5 is spaced above the zo spring I'I, whereby under the weight of a person occupying the seat I, the maximum load is sustained by the usual spring 2. However, the spring I1 is sufllciently reactive so that in the event that the spring 2 breaks, the occupant of the seat 25 is yieidingly supported against shock or jar. 'I'he ring II may be of resilient material whereby as will be clear, rebound under the action of the springs 2 and I'l will be checked, the space between said ring Il and the cap 8 functioning as 30 an air cushion.

The invention together with the advantages thereof, will, it ls believed, be clear from the foregoing description without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is sus- -35 ceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall fairly within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

' What I claim is:

In a tractor, the combination with a seat, and a leaf spring supporting the seat in floating position, of a support beneath said seat comprising upper and lower telescopic sections, the former slidably secured to said seat to permit longitudi- 45 nal movement of the leaf spring relative to said 

